Ron Olsen was born on November 11, l936 and grew up in the Fallen Timber area. Raised by his single-parent father he grew up resourceful and independent, knowing his way around the wild country at a young age. He often took his horse and a little food and went camping by himself in the woods.
After an unfortunate confrontation with a teacher at the beginning of high school he got home to be faced with an ultimatum–go back to school and apologize or go to work. Not one to back down, Ron chose work, and he never looked back. Throughout his long and productive life, Ron was never without work for any appreciable length of time. His jobs included farm and ranch hand, logger, heavy duty mechanic and equipment operator and long-distance truck driver, and perhaps most interestingly, ice road trucker. The jobs he enjoyed most were the most difficult ones.
He was a friend you could always trust to keep his word and be there when you needed him, the best companion in the world in the face of disaster.
In his younger days he was skilled hunter and brought home wild meat to people who needed it and to feed the family. Yet he loved animals and couldn’t stand to see them suffer. At the end of his life he was sharing his home with Lola, his dog, and Jinx, his cat, and made sure that they would have a loving home when he was gone. He didn’t just feed cows; he socialized with them and called them over to be scratched.
He is survived by his daughters Kathy Maine, Rocky Mountain House, Rhonda (Dale) Bauer, Red Deer, Karolyne, Red Deer, son Ron (Lacey) Breton, step- children Evelyn McGhee, Sundre. Lisa McGhee, Prince George, and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
His last 15 years were spent in Bergen as righthand ranch hand and general fixer of everything, but also as a dear friend of Marilyn Halvorson, still working up until his last few days. Ron was not an easy man to get along with. He spoke his mind and didn’t know the meaning of the word tact, but he left behind a lot of wonderful memories. He was one of a kind as befits a man born on Armistice Day and going to meet his maker on Friday the thirteenth. (June 25,2025). Ron’s Celebration of Life will be on September 14, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Bergen Hall, Bergen Alberta.
